World Read Aloud Day, Literacy, and Friendship

Early Learning & Development
Written By Cynthia Skyers-Gordon

World Read Aloud Day takes place on the first Wednesday in February. It was established by LitWorld in 2010 to bring attention to literacy and the importance of reading aloud across communities.

But in early learning spaces, reading aloud has never really needed a special day.

It has always been there.

Stories were shared long before classrooms and standards. Spoken. Heard. Remembered. That part of literacy, the shared part, is still one of the most meaningful.

Read-alouds are often talked about in terms of comprehension and vocabulary. Those things matter. But they are not the whole picture. Reading aloud also teaches children how to listen to one another, how to wait, how to respond, and how to exist in a shared space around a common experience.

That is where friendship begins.

World Read Aloud Day provides a natural opening to consider how literacy and social development overlap. Especially for preschool through elementary-age children, learning does not happen in separate boxes. Language, play, and relationships are always connected.

Literacy-based games are one way to support that connection.

Simple activities, such as building a story together, reading with a partner, or responding to a text through cooperative play, allow children to practice communication while learning to engage with peers. These moments require turn-taking. They require listening. They require noticing others.

Those are friendship skills.

When literacy experiences are designed to be collaborative rather than individual, children are given opportunities to connect through learning. Not because they are told to be kind or inclusive, but because the activity's structure requires them to be present with one another.

World Read Aloud Day is not only about celebrating books. It is an opportunity to be intentional about how stories are used,  not just to teach reading, but to support belonging, connection, and classroom community.

Reference

LitWorld – World Read Aloud Day
https://www.litworld.org/world-read-aloud-day

 By: Dr. Cynthia Skyers-Gordon

Cynthia Skyers-Gordon

Dr. Cynthia Skyers-Gordon, Ed.D. is the founder of SILWELL-C (Staff-Inspired Leadership for Wellness and Calm), a wellness initiative created to empower educators, leaders, and teams to thrive from within. With more than 33 years of experience in early childhood education, from assistant teacher to director to Education Coordinator, Dr. Skyers-Gordon understands the challenges and opportunities staff face each day.

SILWELL-C was born from her belief that true wellness in schools starts with the staff themselves. By providing calm leadership strategies, practical tools, affirmations, and inspiration, SILWELL-C equips educators and leaders to create supportive, balanced environments where both staff and children can flourish.

Through workshops, consultations, and creative resources, Dr. Skyers-Gordon combines her in-depth expertise with a passion for cultivating resilience, connection, and calm in every space. Whether it’s through her upcoming Wellness Toolkit, the JamBel Storybook, or the Free Wellness Hub, she continues to design practical ways for educators and leaders to sustain their own wellness while inspiring others.

At its core, SILWELL-C is more than a program; it’s a movement: a reminder that when staff lead with wellness, schools grow with strength, calm, and confidence.

https://www.silwellc.com
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